5 not-so-secret reasons you want to keep your domain name and hosting separate

I’m going out on a limb today, and I’m going to be contradicting some of the common advice when it comes to web hosting and domains, but here goes.

At CityGirl’s Design, I believe it is important to keep the domain name purchase and the hosting purchase for your websites separate. I know many suggest that you go with the same company for both, to simplify the process and to keep payments in line. But there are good reasons to completely ignore that advice.

5 Reasons to Separate Hosting and Domain Name Services

There is no question of domain name ownership. When you buy a domain and hosting from the same company, you might not own the domain (mostly in the case of free domain names that come with the hosting package). This means it’s tougher to move your domain, and you could run into issues if, for example, you use a professional designer who lists themselves as the registrant or admin contact as they set up your website. This sort of issue comes up when there’s a client/designer problem, or a designer closes their business and disappears.

Avoid delays if you switch hosts. Some web hosts that also sell domain names have a two month period where they practice registrar locking. This means that you cannot easily point your domain to another host if you switch, until that 60 day time period. But, if you purchased the two separately, it’s easy to switch hosts: just point your domain to your new host and you’ll be good to go.

Add a level of protection from hacking. When your website gets hacked, it’s typically the web hosting that is affected- your domain is not. There could be issues if you buy both from the same company. If you use separate providers, a hacking disaster may not mean that you’ll get locked out of your domain dashboard.

Protect from loss of domain names. There are several ways you might lose your domain name, like transfer via hacker. The simultaneous expiration of hosting and domain can be problematic too.

More Top-Level Domain options. If you’re looking for a unique domain name, your best bet is to go with a domain registrar that focuses on those. Web hosts don’t usually offer many top level domains, which can limit your creativity in naming your site.

Where to Buy Your Domain Name

There are many different companies to consider as you’re looking for a domain name provider. Many of these are popular in the online business world, and for good reasons. It’s important to do your research when it comes to choosing which registrar you’ll use to buy your domain name, and to make an informed decision.

NameCheap is a favorite of mine for many reasons. First of all, they offer the least expensive domain names and their user interface is extremely easy to use. Second, they offer WhoIs Guard for free for the first year. WhoIs Guard is something everybody should get to protect your privacy. WhoIs Guard works by keeping your name, address and email out of the WhoIs registrar, which a lot of scammers use.

They also don’t “lock” a good domain name! (Other companies may do this when they think you searched for a pretty good domain name. Once a company has locked it up, this forces you to buy it with them if you really want the name).

Finally, I believe that NameCheap is a really decent company that actually care about their customers.

Where to Purchase Hosting Services

Like domain registrars, there is a wide variety of hosting services to consider as you’re putting together your website. Reliable and easy-to-use web hosting is crucial for an online business to flourish and be successful.

Personally, I recommend using Siteground, and it’s also the hosting service I suggest to my clients if they are looking for hosting services. They have the best hosting I’ve seen at a suuuper decent price. Their customer service is amazing and when you ask questions, they actually answer it (instead of making you feel like you’re stupid for asking a question in the first place). Their team members are really helpful. Just as important for a business – I barely had any website interruptions in more than two years. All the clients that I refer to them are really impressed by their service level. They’re not part of the EIG Group, which you should avoid at all cost because their service is crap. Basically, SiteGround hasn’t been bought out yet, so they offer a really great service because they can!

If you’re ready to get a website that is as awesome as you are and you want to hand the design off to a pro so you can focus on running your business, that’s what CityGirl’s Design is here for! Reach out if you think you’re ready to work with me!

Certain links in this post are affiliate links. This means that I may get a percentage of your purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I use and love. Thank you for your support!

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Virginie

Virginie is the founder of CityGirl's Design, a web design company that helps thriving entrepreneurs grow their business by providing them with a website that converts hesitant clients and attracts new ones. If she’s not behind her computer, you can find her hanging out on the beach, either reading a good book or transforming into a mermaid!Learn More >

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